McConnell: 'There's A Modest Recovery Apparently Underway'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday fielded off a question about how the gradually improving economy could impact the GOP's chances in the November elections.

"Well I certainly hope that we are seeing some signs of recovery," he said on CNN's State of the Union. "And there's a modest recovery apparently underway. What we do still have is 8.3 percent unemployment. What we have is an increase in the national debt of 43 percent under this president. Our national debt is now the size of the economy. That is not a prescription for a healthy economy long-term. Almost no one is predicting that we're going to get back to what most Americans consider a normal unemployment rate of around 5 and a half percent. So yes, we're encouraged that the economy seems to be gaining some momentum."

McConnell indicated that Republicans won't deny that a recovery is taking hold.

"So yeah, I think the economy is still going to be an issue in the fall," he added. "We're certainly pleased that there are some signs of growth."